Health Professions Education Foundation

The Health Professions Education Foundation (HPEF) improves access to healthcare in underserved areas of California by providing scholarships and loan repayments programs to health professional students and graduates who are dedicated to providing direct patient care in those areas. In return for this support, recipients agree to provide direct patient care in a medically underserved area of California for a period of one to three years.

Established in 1987, the Health Professions Education Foundation (HPEF) is the state’s only non-profit foundation statutorily created to encourage persons from underrepresented communities to become health professionals and increase access to health providers in medically underserved areas. Supported by grants, donations, licensing fees, and special funds, HPEF provides scholarship, loan repayment and programs to students and graduates who agree to practice in California’s medically underserved communities. Housed in the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, HPEF’s track record of delivering health providers to areas of need has resulted in approximately 16,385 awards totaling more than $186.75 million to allied health, nursing, mental health and medical students and recent graduates practicing in all 58 counties of California.

Do you want to learn more about HPEF’s programs? Listen to our podcast recorded in partnership with the California Primary Care Association’s Community HealthCasts.

HPEF is a public charity and is eligible to receive tax deductible donations. HPEF’s Tax Identification Number is 68-0178150.

Gifts of Cash:Gifts of cash may be paid immediately or pledged for payment over a three to five-year time at the convenience of the donor. Generally speaking, non-cash gifts will be liquidated immediately upon receipt.

Corporate Matching Gifts:Many employers have policies and procedures for making gifts to organizations that are supported by their employees and retired personnel. If you or your spouse is employed (or retired) from a corporation that “matches” gifts, the effect of your personal contribution is doubled. Check with your Employee Benefits Division to determine if your gift to HPEF qualifies for matching support. If so, request the form for completion and submission.

Grants:Individuals, private foundations, and corporations may regionalize their support to specific geographic areas of California when donating gifts or making grants to HPEF.

The Health Professions Education Foundation manages all gift and grant income in consultation with the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development’s Accounting Office. All pledges and gifts will be acknowledged in writing.

The Foundation is governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, and Senate Committee on Rules. The Director of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and the Chair of the Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission serve as ex-officio members.